Ribbon-cutting ceremony at I-35 Monarch way stations

**ARCHIVED POST **

New educational signs were installed this summer at the Monarch Waystations at rest areas along Interstate 35 in Bell County and Hill County. We’re celebrating with ribbon-cuttings at both locations on October 2 to kick-off our annual fall symposium for 2021. Mark your calendars!

Hill County Safety Rest Area (south of Hillsboro) dedication will be at 10 AM Oct 2, at the Southbound Safety Rest Area
Bell County Safety Rest Area (south of Salado) dedication will be at 2 PM Oct 2, at the Northbound Safety Rest Area

The waystations are pollinator gardens with plants that sustain Monarch Butterflies on their annual migrations in the spring and fall. The gardens were begun in 2016 as part of a partnership between the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the Texas Department of Transportation and the Native Plant Society of Texas. The four demonstration gardens (both sides at each location) were designed and implemented by the Society and serve to showcase our organization and native plants to the world of travelers who journey the Monarch Highway!

We are also asking for your help in maintaining these gardens. The Native Plant Society is obligated to maintain the gardens. It has been a challenge to keep some of the gardens in top condition. We are asking members and anyone willing to help to pledge 25 hours of volunteer work to be done in one year. Those who pledge will receive a blue tee shirt with the graphic design seen in the picture. This shirt is meant to be worn while doing work in the way station gardens.

Pledge by September 5 to get your shirt in time to wear it to the ribbon cutting on October 2!

You can submit an email pledge to volunteers.i35.mws@npsot.org. A link to the pledge form will be emailed back to you, or click the button below to go directly to the pledge form.

[su_button url=”https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScy_9jJ01jl7BTCRczq34Mz9JzlcQdZqmq-URdc4dwA6XgvHg/viewform” size=”4″ background=”#46629e” color=”#ffffff” ]Pledge form[/su_button]

 

The pledge drive and tee shirt offer will end on September 30th! Please sign up now if you are committed to working 25 hours in one year!

Learn more about the eleven presentations and five virtual field trips in our annual fall symposium at Celebrating Conservation and Community!

**ARCHIVED POST**

**ARCHIVED POST LINKS & PICTURES MAY NOT WORK**

**ARCHIVED POST AUTHOR: wpadmin

About the Region

2026 Fall Symposium Logo

This low-elevations region of Texas extends inland from the barrier islands, about 60 or so miles, and stretches from Brownsville to Louisiana. In total, it covers about 9.5 million acres, with a high point of 150 feet in elevation. More than 1000 species of plants can be found in this region. On the southern end, species more common in Mexico (such as Sabal mexicana) and Central America occur.

The barrier islands provide us with dune systems, and clay flats to the inland side, which have species found in these areas alone. Many plants here, such as Ipomoea pes-caprae (beach morning glory), can be found throughout tropical regions of the globe. I’ve encountered the same species on the beaches of Guam.

Once inland, vast marshes and wet prairies occur. Occasionally, oak (Quercus fusiformis) groves can be found. Common grasses include species of Bothriochloa, Paspalum, and Sporobolus; eastern gamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides); and switchgrass (Panicum species). Many rivers and creeks cut through the Gulf Prairies, and along these riparian areas various species of trees, Sabal minor, and other plants adapted to clay soils can be found. Due to overgrazing, farming, and fire suppression, woody species such as mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana), and invasive species such as chinaberry (Melia azedarach), Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), and Chinese tallow (Sapium sebiferum) have increased and displaced our native flora.

Source: Wildflowers of Texas by Michael Eason